Automatic brooder.



J. R. HARGIS.

AUTO'MATC BROODER.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE l5. 1911.

l1 ,266,462. Patented 1112131111918.v

@P5270 J/Q 261 /5 n INVENTOR JAMES RICHARD Iv-IARGIS, OF SPRINGFIELD, MISSOURI.

AUTOMATIC BROODER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 1st, 1918.

Application led June 15, 1917. Serial No. 174,586.

To all LU/Lam it may concern Be it known that I, JAMES It. HARGIs, a. citizen of the United States, residing at Springfield, in thel county of Greene and Statevof Missouri, have invented new and useful Improvements in Automatic Brooders, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to broeders for use in'raising young chicks in large numbers without the aid of a hen.

The primary object of the invention is to construct a brooder capable 0f being automatically closed when the number of fowls therein reaches a predetermined weight, so that crowding and suffocation thereof will be prevented and the housing conditions maintained in a. more s'anitary manner.

further object of the invention is to provide means wherebythe automatic closing of the brooder may be regulated, so that the said brooder may lbe used to accommodate a various number of fowls, the automatic closing means being set so as to close the broeder when the number of fowls there` in reaches a predetermined weight.

Vith the above stated and other objects in view, the invention consists of a receptacle provided with an opening, which is adapted to be closed by means of a sliding closure, which is flexibly connected to the rotatably mounted drum upon which the connection is. adapted to be wound for the purpose of maintaining the receptacle in an open condition to permit the entrance and exit of the chicks. The invention further includes a. movable bottom for the receptacle, which is connected to a rotatable drum in a manner to permit of its automatic release when the number of fowls therein reaches a predetermined weight.

In carrying out the objects of the invention, it is understood that various changes may be made in the practical embodiment thereof and the right is reserved to make such changes, the preferred form of the invention being illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a perspective view of a brooder embodying the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view of the same with the door open.

Fig. 3 is a similar view showing'the parts in position when the door is closed.

'In the proper embodiment of the invention hereinafter shown, there is illustrated a receptacle 10, of suitable form and dimensions, the said receptacle being preferably .of rectangular form in plan view and including a top 11, sides 12 and front and rear walls 13 and 14 respectively.

The front wall of the receptacle is provided with an entrance opening 15, for the purpose of providing means for the entrance and exit of chicks. This opening is adapted to be closed by a slide 16, which is mounted for vertical sliding movement in guides 1T arranged upon each side of the opening 15.

Mounted upon the front of the receptacle is a drum 18, whose pintles 19 are mounted for rotation in brackets Q() secured near the upper edge of the front wall 13. This drum is connected to the slide 16 by means of iieXible connections 21, each having one of their ends secured to and wound upon the drum 18 and their opposite ends secured to the slide 16 by means of staples 22 or analogous fastening devices.

The drum 1S carries a radially extending member 23, secured approximately centrally thereof and mounted upon the top 11 ofthe receptacle is a lever '21, which is provided with a hook end 25, which is adapted to be brought into the path of movement of the member 23 and engaged therewith for the purpose of preventing rotation of the drum.

The lever 24 is pivotally mounted upon the .tcp 11 as shown at :26, the end of the lever opposite the hook 25 having secured thereto a cable or other element 2T, by means of which it is connected to the bottom 28 of the receptacle as shown at 29.

The bottom 28 is mounted for sliding movement within the receptacle 10, the.

length of the cable 2T being such that when the hook 25 is engaged with the member 28 of the drum, the said `bot-tom will be slightly elevated, the drum having first been rotated sufficiently to raise the slide 16 above the opening 15 to permit access to the interior of the brooder. IVhen the parts are in position the weight of the chicks entering the brooder in sufficient number to produce the predetermined weight will cause the bottom 28 to be depressed, carrying with it the rear end of the lever 2li, and disengaging the hook end from the member 23, permitting the rotation of the drum under the weight of the slide 16, the length of the iieXible connection 21 being sufficient to permit said slide to close the opening 15.

In order to accurately adjust the brooder so that the entrance opening will be closed when enough chicks to produce the desired weight have entered the broeder, the lever 24 is provided with an adjusting weight 30,

vwhich is slidably mounted thereon' and is adapted to be held in adjusted position by means of the set screw 31, the said weight being moved along the leverso that the bottom 28 will be lowered only after the combined weight of the desired.- number of chicks has been placed thereon.

By this means any desired number of brooders may be utilized for the care of a large number of chicks, each brooder automatically closing to prevent the entrance of any chicks above the number suiicient to produce the required weight, thereby preventing crowding and possible danger to the chicks.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Having described the invention, what is claimed is:

A brooder comprising a receptacle provided with an opening7 a slidable gravity closure therefor, a drum mounted for rotation above said sliding gravity closure, a exible element having one end secured to the closure and its opposite end wound around said drum, a radially extending lug carried by said drum5 a verticallymoving bottom for said closure and-a pivoted lever located inthe path of said lug and connected to the bottom, whereby a downward movement of said bottom will release the lug and permit the rotation `of the drum and the closing of the opening.`

In testimony whereof I aiiix my signature.

JAMES RICHARD HARGIS.

washington, D. c. f 

